Reflex sight having modular hood

ABSTRACT

A target sight system includes a base portion with a gun-mounting interface allowing the sight to be firmly fastened to a shooting device. The base also includes a power supply, a target light generator, and a light-passing surface through which the target light passes between the target light generator and a target. The sight system also includes a cover that is detachably removable from the base portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/882,450, entitled “REFLEX SIGHT HAVING MODULAR HOOD,” filed Aug. 5,2022, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/133,249, entitled “BATTERY COMPARTMENT FOR SIGHTING DEVICE, filedDec. 23, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,408,710, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/749,925,entitled “REFLEX SIGHT HAVING MODULAR HOOD,” filed Jan. 22, 2020, whichis a non-provisional of and claims benefit of U.S. provisional patentapplication No. 62/796,022, entitled “REFLEX SIGHT HAVING MODULAR HOOD,”filed Jan. 23, 2019, the disclosures of all of which are incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Reflex type gun sights provide a shooter a quick and easy way to sight atarget compared to conventional iron sights. Reflex sights can beopen-type, which typically include only a single lens, or closed type,which typically include at least two lenses enclosed by a tube.Generally, shooters may prefer an open reflex sight when targeting inlow light conditions, and a closed reflex sight when in brighterconditions, although various shooters may prefer either type in varioussituations. It is relatively difficult, however, to change from onereflex type to the other, as changing reflex sights generally requiresremoving the installed sight from the gun and re-installing the othertype.

Embodiments of the invention address these and other limitations of theprior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective line diagram of an open reflex sightaccording to embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective line diagram of the open reflex sight ofFIG. 1 and also illustrating a compact shroud ready to be mounted to thesight.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective line diagram of the open reflex sight ofFIG. 1 illustrating the compact shroud of FIG. 2 in a partially mountedposition.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective line diagram of the open reflex sight ofFIG. 1 illustrating the compact shroud of FIG. 2 in a fully mountedposition.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective line diagram of the open reflex sight ofFIG. 1 illustrating a separate rear window that is mountable to thesight.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective line diagram of the open reflex sight ofFIG. 1 illustrating the separate rear window of FIG. 5 in a mountedposition.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective line diagram of the open reflex sight ofFIG. 6 illustrating a full sized shroud in a partially mounted position.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective line diagram of the open reflex sight ofFIG. 6 illustrating the full sized shroud in a fully mounted position.

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective line diagram of the open reflex sight ofFIG. 6 in which the full sized shroud is fully mounted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention may include one or more modular shrouds,which may be installed and removed by the shooter. FIG. 1 is a frontperspective line diagram of an open reflex sight 100 that may accept oneor more removable shrouds according to embodiments. FIG. 2 illustrates acompact shroud 120 ready to be mounted to the sight 100. The compactshroud 120 includes a bar 122 that is sized and shaped to engage with aslot or groove 102 located on a lower part of the sight 100. First, theuser aligns the bar 122 with the slot 102 as illustrated in FIG. 3 .Then the user rotates the free end of the compact shroud 120 toward thefirearm to the closed position, as illustrated in FIG. 4 . The compactshroud 120 may be then secured with one or more fasteners 124, such as ascrew or pin to retain the shroud in place. In other embodiments theshroud 120 may be somewhat flexible and include one or more projectionsthat align with one or more recesses in the sight 100 mount. As the userrotates the compact shroud 120 into position, the projections snap intoplace, held by the rigidity of the shroud material. Once mounted, thecompact shroud 120 is in position to partially cover the reflex sight100, providing mechanical protection as well as blocking some of thelight from entering the sight.

In other embodiments the reflex sight according to embodiments of theinvention include an installable rear window 150, effectively convertingthe open reflex sight of FIG. 1 into a closed reflex sight.

FIG. 6 illustrates a separate rear window 150 that is mountable to thesight 100, that, when mounted, converts the open reflex sight of FIG. 1into a closed reflex sight. In this embodiment the rear window 150 hasan overmolded gasket 152. When installed, the gasket 152 seals the backof the open sight 100, turning it into an enclosed reflex sight. Asdescribed above, some shooters prefer closed sights to open ones. Afterthe rear window 150 has been installed, as illustrated in FIG. 9 , afull sized shroud 170 may be installed to cover the enclosed reflextsight 100, as illustrated in FIGS. 7-8 . The full sized shroud 170installs in the same manner as the compact shroud 120 described above.

This written description makes reference to particular features. It isto be understood that the disclosure in this specification includes allpossible combinations of those particular features. For example, where aparticular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect,that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in the context ofother aspects.

Although specific aspects of the disclosure have been illustrated anddescribed for purposes of illustration, it will be understood thatvarious modifications may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A reflex sight system for a firearm, comprising:a reflex sight structured to be mounted to the firearm, the reflex sightalso including a power supply, a target sight generator, and alight-reflecting surface at which the target sight generator isdirected; and a detachably removable shroud structured to be mounted tothe reflex sight.
 2. The reflex sight system according to claim 1, inwhich, in a fully closed position in which the shroud covers thelight-reflecting surface of the reflex sight, the shroud is fastened toa base portion of the reflex sight.
 3. The reflex sight system accordingto claim 2, in which the shroud is fastened to the reflex sight baseportion with a screw or pin.
 4. The reflex sight system according toclaim 2, in which the shroud is flexible and includes one or moreprojections, and in which the shroud is fastened to the reflex sight bya snapover connection to the reflex sight base portion, where the one ormore projections of the shroud interface with one or more recessesformed in the reflex sight base portion.
 5. The reflex sight systemaccording to claim 1, in which the shroud is structured to block lightfrom entering the reflex sight.
 6. A reflex sight system for a firearm,comprising: a reflex sight having a gun-mounting interface, the reflexsight also including a power supply, a target light generator, and alight-reflecting surface at which the target light is projected togenerate a target aimpoint; a rear window detachably removable from thereflex sight; and a shroud detachably removable from the reflex sightand structured to cover the reflex sight and the rear window.
 7. Thereflex sight system according to claim 6 in which the rear windowcomprises a sealing gasket structured to interface with the reflexsight.
 8. The reflex sight system according to claim 6 in whichinstalling the rear window on the reflex sight converts the reflex sightsystem from an open reflex sight to a closed reflex sight.
 9. The reflexsight system according to claim 6, in which the reflex sight includes aslot or groove in a forward portion, and in which a forward portion ofthe shroud includes a bar structured to engage with the slot or grooveof the reflex sight and rotates relative to the reflex sight duringinstallation.
 10. The reflex sight system according to claim 9, inwhich, in a fully closed position in which the shroud covers thelight-passing surface of the reflex sight, the shroud is fastened to thereflex sight.
 11. The reflex sight system according to claim 10, inwhich the shroud is fastened to the reflex sight with a screw or pin.12. The reflex sight system according to claim 10, in which the shroudis flexible and includes one or more projections, and in which theshroud is fastened to the reflex sight by a snapover connection to thereflex sight where the one or more projections of the shroud interfacewith one or more recesses formed in the reflex sight.